New Philadelphia man who raped 3 children will serve a prison term of 55 years to life
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ A New Philadelphia man has been sentenced to 55 years to life in prison for sex crimes involving three children younger than the age of 10.
Common Pleas Judge Elizabeth Lehigh Thomakos imposed the sentence Monday on Jason M. Gordon, 32. Gordon was convicted by a jury in April on three counts of rape, first-degree felonies; and three counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies. The offenses occurred from Jan. 18, 2008, to Oct. 20, 2012.
The judge sentenced him to a total of 40 years to life in prison on the three rape charges, and 60 months for each count of gross sexual imposition. The sentences will be served consecutively.
Gordon was indicted on the charges in 2022, but his case has seen numerous delays.
Assistant Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Kristine Beard had asked the judge to sentence Gordon to life in prison without parole, but she said the court was not inclined to hand out that sentence. She told Judge Thomakos, "The fact remains that he is a danger, frankly, to kids in our society. The public needs to be protected from that."
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Beard said that Gordon continues to take no responsibility for what happened in this case.
Apology from defendant
Speaking on his own behalf, Gordon told the judge, "First, I'd like to apologize to your honor for wasting your time. I'd also like to apologize to (New Philadelphia) Detective Capt. Ty Norris and Detective (Chaz) Willett for also wasting their time when they should be out helping other people. I'd also like to apologize to the state and Miss Kristine Beard for wasting their time. And I'd like to apologize to the people I hurt."
He then asked for mercy from the judge.
Because of his conviction, Gordon will be classified as a Tier 3 sex offender.
Before passing sentence, Judge Thomakos told the defendant, "In this particular case, we have a matter that is more serious. The injury was worsened by the ages of the victims, who were of tender years."
She noted that the victims suffered psychological harm.
Thomakos explained why she was imposing consecutive sentences. "You have three victims here, and they were very, very young at the time of the offense, and their lives have been affected. I think it would demean the seriousness of the offense and the harm caused to impose a single term."
Gordon has been held in the Tuscarawas County Jail since 2022.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: New Philadelphia man gets 55 years in prison for raping three children
